Written by: Trey Jones

The Horseshoe Crab

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Appearance Chapter 3: Habitat Chapter 4: Interesting Facts Chapter 5: Conclusion

Introduction

Do you know a creature who has a spiny tall and a hard brown hat? If you guessed the horseshoe crab you are right! Let’s examine their appearance, investigate its habitat, and discover its history and the incredible facts that are waiting to be uncovered.

Appearance

This amazing sea animal has a unique appearance. The horseshoe crab has a crusty, brown, hard, helmet shaped shell. This seashore dweller can weigh up to about 12 pounds and grow up to 2-3 feet long.

The shell needs to be brown to blend in with the sand and to protect it from enemies. Its long spiky tail helps it steer and move. It also helps it flip right side up if it’s upside down.

These horseshoe crabs blend in with the rocks and avoid being eaten by the birds.

Physical Adaptation

Purpose

Brown color Camouflage

Spiky, long tail Movement and protection

Hard shell Protection

Swim upside down

Movement

HabitatWhere does the horseshoe crab live? In the salt water ocean and the

sandy seashore of course. The tall grasses of the marshes help the crustacean hide from predators there.

Two horseshoe crabs play in the marshes in the ocean.

These invertebrates also live in the warm waters of the Asian and North American seashores. I’ll never forget the time when I went to Mystic Aquarium to touch a real live horseshoe crab in its manmade seashore habitat.

Horseshoe crabs prefer warm waters, which can be found on the coasts of North America and Asia.

Amazing FactsWould you believe the many amazing

facts about the spiky tailed creature? Can you believe that this seashore dweller lived 100 years before dinosaurs?

Horseshoe Crabs

Dinosaurs

Present Day

200 million years

Its relatives are the tick scorpion, and spider, animals my mom certainly doesn’t want in her house.

Tick Scorpion Spider

Amazingly, this invertebrate can lay 20,000 eggs at one time. Gladly it doesn’t need to take care of all these babies!

You’ll be shocked to learn that this amazing sea creature can swim upside down.

Some of the thousands of eggs a horseshoe crab laid.

Conclusion

So when you are at the seashore be sure to look for a horseshoe crab. You’ll recognize this beach dweller by its unusual traits, identity its habitat and study the invertebrate’s history and incredible facts. It certainly is an amazing creature.

Glossary

Blend: Mixing together so that two different things combine together. Dweller: Something or someone that lives in a particular place. Invertebrates: An animal lacking a backbone.Manmade: Made or caused by humans.Steer: Guide or control movement.